Where Music Comes to Play

SanDisk Sansa Base Station for the e200 & c200

SanDisk is not messing around when it comes to getting their Sansa MP3 players into the hands of many. One of the biggest complaints that non-iPod owners have is the lack of accessories that are available. With the introduction of more and more accessories for non-iPods, these complaints should slowly fade away; in SanDisk’s case that fade may start here.

The Sansa docking station comes equipped with audio, power, and USB inputs with a remote that mounts in the back of the dock. Also included in the box is an RCA audio cable, USB cable, power adapter, and inserts for the corresponding models. The dock will go on sale sometime in October and will retail for around $70.

i’m not sure if i get it, you plus this dock into a stereo or something? can’t u just plug the mp3 player into a stereo with a $4 cable? so ur spending $70 for a remote control?what they really need is a dock station in the car, b/c my car has nowhere to set my player besides the seat next to me and i hate that.

In my experience, the audio connection via the dock is better than going through the headphone jack, at least if you have an AUX input in your car. By better I mean vastly superior. It’s louder, cleaner, and punchier. The headphone jack is a poor substitute for a line level output. Someone at SanDisk should be fired for not offering an accessory cable that attaches to the dock connector port and provides two features: A power connector for the cigarette lighter and a line level cable with a 1/8″ mini jack that connects to the AUX input. I know several people with new cars and Sansa players, and there is no good way to connect/charge the player.

I second Steve’s comments regarding having an accessory cable that attaches to the dock connector port and provides two features: A power connector for the cigarette lighter and a line level cable with a 1/8″ mini jack that connects to the AUX input. I can find nothing like it anywhere; this is an item that is available for iPods. I don’t know about firing anyone, but any Sansa owner with a car that has an aux jack in the dash is a possible customer…

I have the base and it works perfectly with the e200′s and below. With the Sansa View, I have had problems with charging the battery and poor sound quality. And no, you cannot use the base with the e250 with a case on.

abi Editor's Choice

SanDisk Sansa Clip+

The Clip+ has a fantastic little form factor; somewhat cheap in build quality but very rugged. The interface is simple and relatively straightforward. The features on the Clip are more or less average, however it supports the alternative Rockbox firmware which provides tons of additional options (gapless playback, Replaygain, playlists, Last.fm scrobbling, etc). Read the full review or go ahead and buy it.

Cowon J3

The J3 is a fantastic PMP with a very nice AMOLED screen and tons of features. It sports Cowon's trademark BBE sound enhancements, and offers a customizable user interface with strong support by our user community. You can usually find it at Amazon for the best price - and don't forget to check out our review.

Microsoft Zune HD

Sure, many of us are not big fans of the walled garden, but there are a lot of great things going on with the Zune: sturdy hardware, ultra easy to use user interface, and a media player that is worthy of Editor’s Choice. You can check out our Zune HD review or stop by our Zune forums for the latest info and gossip.

Phonak Audéo PFE

Phonak Audéo PFE offer outstanding clarity and precision; natural, dynamic mids and treble, and decent bass for a single armature in-ear phone. They handle dense, complex music very well. The PFE work well with most acoustic and some electronic music genres, but bassheads might have to look at other alternatives. They're great for sports as well, since they fit very securely. Check out our review.

Hippo VB

The Hippo VB (Variable Bass) offers a serious subwoofer for on the go, right in your head. They don’t just deliver generous quantities of punchy, textured bass, but good audio quality over the whole frequency range with decent clarity and exceptional soundstage. Exchangeable bass ports let you customize their sound to your liking. Read our in-depth Hippo VB review.

Soundmagic E10 / E30

The Soundmagic E10 and E30 are basically right in the middle between the Phonak PFE and Hippo VB - not too analytical sounding, not too bass heavy. The E10 provide a bit more bass, the E30 a bit more clarity. Both come with a very fair price tag considering the sound quality they deliver - a great choice for the audio aficionado on a budget. Read our E10 and E30 reviews for more info.